3. A Quote from C. H. Spurgeon (4)

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2. A Quote from T. Austin-Sparks (3)

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1. Hymn: If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee

Hymn: If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee

Author: Georg Neumark (1621-1681)

(Vocal)

(Music)

(Sheet Music)

1. If thou but suffer God to guide thee,
    And hope in Him thro‵ all thy ways,
    He‵ll give thee strength whate‵er betide thee,
    And bear thee thro‵ the evil days;
    Who trusts in God‵s unchanging love
    Builds on the Rock that naught can move.

2. Only be still and wait His leisure,
    In cheerful hope, with heart content,
    To take whate‵er thy Father‵s pleasure
    And all-discerning love hath sent;
    Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
    To Him Who chose us for His own.

3. Sing, pray and keep His ways unswerving,
    In ev‵ry labor faithful be,
    And trust His Word, tho‵ undeserving,
    Thou yet shalt find it true for thee;
    God never yet forsook in need
    The soul that trusts in Him indeed!

1. Hymn: It Is Well with My Soul

Hymn: It Is Well with My Soul

Author: Horatio G. Spafford (1828-1888)

(Vocal)

(Music)

(Sheet Music)

1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
    When sorrows like sea billows roll;
    Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
    It is well, it is well with my soul.

Refrain:

It is well with my soul,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

2. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
    Let this blest assurance control,
    That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
    And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

3. My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
    My sin, not in part but the whole,
    Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
    Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

4. And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
    The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
    The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
    Even so, it is well with my soul.

1. Devotional: Be Patient

Be Patient

Author: David Jeremiah

I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—

that it is good for a man to remain as he is. (1 Corinthians 7:26)

    We’ve all heard the advice: "Count to ten before doing/saying anything you might regret later." In other words, impulsive, emotionally-based decisions or actions are fraught with the possibility of disappointment. If that is true for everyday decisions, how much more might it be true when making marriage plans? Patience is the watchword when it comes to such life-changing decisions.

    The apostle Paul gave such advice to the Corinthian church when he wrote to them about marriage. He said, given the "present distress," don’t make life-altering decisions. If you are single, remain single; if you are married, remain married. What was the "present distress" of which he wrote? It could have been some sort of crisis in Corinth resulting in hardship, or it might have been simply the challenges of following Christ in an ungodly, antagonistic culture. In other words, sometimes life presents enough "troubles" of its own without making drastic changes impulsively. Marriage is good; singleness is good. Just be patient and seek the Lord’s will and timing.

    This advice about marriage applies to all the Christian life: Be patient, seek the Lord, move deliberately and prayerfully.

1. Devotional: Let’s Talk about Families

Let’s Talk about Families

Author: Robert A. Cook (1912-1991)

For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of Him. (1 Sam. 1:27)

    How do you plot a course for your family? Note three crucial elements evident in today’s text: first, prayer; second, commitment; and third, responsibility.

    Hannah prayed earnestly. In agony of soul, she cried out to God. And God answered her prayer beautifully, in the arrival of a baby boy, Samuel. Prayer makes the difference between a family full of God and a family full of self. This has to be more, by the way, than a prayer now and again in formal fashion. It takes that personal intercession where mothers and dads, sons and daughters, are each seeking God.

    Second, commitment. Hannah vowed that Samuel would be lent to the Lord as long as he lived (1:28). Would you be willing to give your child to God—perhaps even for overseas missions service? Would you be willing to give up your home, your financial security, your prestige? My dear friend, the willingness to give your most precious possession to God, and yourself with the gift, makes all the difference.

    The third factor, of course is responsibility. Eli knew that "his sons made themselves vile and he restrained them not" (3:13). Eli was a chief priest, and, as such, it was his responsibility to say who would serve with him in the tabernacle. He could have, and he should have, said, "Boys, if you’re not going to walk with God, you’re not going to work here either."

Small thought here:

    My father said to me on many occasions, "Boy, as long as you have your feet under my table I’m responsible to God for you." And parents, it’s true!

4. A Quote from A. W. Tozer (3)

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3. A Quote from Oswald Chambers (3)

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2. Hymn: Be Thou My Vision

Hymn: Be Thou My Vision 

Translator: Mary E. Byrne (1880-1931)

(Vocal)

(Music)

(Sheet Music)

1. Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
    Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art—
    Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
    Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

2. Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
    I ever with Thee and Thou with me Lord;
    Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
    Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

3. Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
    Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
    Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
    High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

4. High King of heaven, my victory won,
    May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Sun!
    Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
    Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

1. Devotional: Family Decisions

Family Decisions 

by Robert A. Cook (1912-1991)

For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, 

and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice. (Gen. 18:19)

    A young woman became concerned about the spiritual condition of her parents and her brother. They were all good, church-going people, but seemed to have no spiritual vitality. She began to pray about the matter and became convinced that, for her at least, having a daily quiet time would be the key to spiritual growth. 

    The young lady asked to use the family alarm clock. In return for the privilege, she promised to waken the rest of the family on time each morning. Then she arose half an hour before the others to meet quietly with her Lord. Before long, the rest of the family began to show interest in spiritual things. They began to pray and have their own devotions. The family became more and more spiritually minded and both children are now active in Christian service.

    You may be your own family’s only source of spiritual teaching. This is true not only in the case of one believer in the midst of an unsaved family; it is also true in families where all profess faith in Christ. By this I mean that you may be the one person who can show by your example that a certain scriptural truth is both real and important.

    Make family decisions, then, realizing that you are God’s instrument in your home. Family members will define what you really are by observing what you do.

Small thought here:

    Your family is something uniquely yours. These are the people with whom God has placed you and to whom you belong. And it is a responsibility which cannot be evaded. Your family may be your number one mission field. Your conduct and choices may affect their relationship to Christ.